I'm afraid I have to put this blog on hiatus. School has started and I have too much going on to focus on this little project of mine, so I'm officially putting it on pause.
I hope my viewers aren't too disappointed. Thank you for taking the time to actually read this blog. I really do appreciate it! Makes me feel like I'm reaching out to the world, even though I'm in reality just sitting in front of a bright screen with my fingers clumsily fumbling over the keys.
I definitely won't abandon Piles and Piles of Books, however. Think of this hiatus as a really dull chapter in a book you're reading, and you really really really want it to be over, but at the same time, you're okay with it because you know once this chapter ends, another chapter, a much more exciting one will begin.
And hopefully, it'll be awesome.
I'll see you soon.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Update Time
The novel I will review next is Timeless by Alexandra Monir. Due to the immense load of homework ominously hanging over my head, I haven't gotten around to actually reading it, but luckily, it's a shorter novel, so I should have a review going soon.
In the meantime, comment any book recommendations you have for me. After all, might as well hoard more books, am I right??
In the meantime, comment any book recommendations you have for me. After all, might as well hoard more books, am I right??
Monday, August 11, 2014
FABULOUS BOOK IS FABULOUS
I APOLOGIZE BUT SOMETIMES THE CAPS LOCK IS NECESSARY.
... I read The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Technically, this was a reread, but, yeah. I read it. And it was utterly majestic. But before I explain, here's pictures of the book. I included both covers because both are gorgeous in their own right:
(First photo from www.goodreads.com; second from www.maggiesieifvater.com)
Description:
"There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve. Either you're his true love... or you killed him." Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them- until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, and he's a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.
My Thoughts (Small spoilers ahead; you have been warned):
For starters, this is one of those books where I literally love almost all of the characters. They're so very complex and interesting to read about, and Maggie Stiefvater's writing style really makes them come to life. They don't feel or seem flat/2-Dimensional; more like someone you could easily bump into in real life. Here's my (not very analytic) analysis of the characters mentioned in the description, minus Blue's mom:
Blue: sassy, amazing, eccentric, and definitely doesn't fit the damsel-in-distress stereotype that is sometimes used for female protagonists (I'm lookin' at you, Twilight).
Gansey: may be rich, but has an almost literal heart of gold. He's also a huge nerd about Welsh history and it's pretty adorable.
Ronan: about as vicious a person can get, but a master of the sarcasm and has a secret soft side for baby ravens. He's very tough and I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
Adam: rather stubborn about succeeding in life on his own, yet a really nice guy. He also has this not-so-secret secret that's really depressing and makes me want to give him a huge hug and protect him from the world. (Cries a little)
Noah: pretty much a puppy in human form.
I love the little twists and turns in this story, and it held my attention the entire time. The setting, Henrietta, Virginia, has such a ordinary yet intriguing atmosphere. This is not a typical young adult novel; it's entirely unique, and I can't wait to get around to reading the second book in this four-part series, The Dream Thieves.
Overall Rating:
The Raven Boys is perfect for you if you want interesting characters, a dash of the unknown, and quite a lot of history and mythology. I would absolutely read this again (rereread?). I also think it would be a great movie or TV show, as long as it goes by the book.
I rate this book five out of five ravens.
Note: I will try my best to post more often, and I apologize for the delay.
"There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve. Either you're his true love... or you killed him." Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them- until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, and he's a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.
My Thoughts (Small spoilers ahead; you have been warned):
For starters, this is one of those books where I literally love almost all of the characters. They're so very complex and interesting to read about, and Maggie Stiefvater's writing style really makes them come to life. They don't feel or seem flat/2-Dimensional; more like someone you could easily bump into in real life. Here's my (not very analytic) analysis of the characters mentioned in the description, minus Blue's mom:
Blue: sassy, amazing, eccentric, and definitely doesn't fit the damsel-in-distress stereotype that is sometimes used for female protagonists (I'm lookin' at you, Twilight).
Gansey: may be rich, but has an almost literal heart of gold. He's also a huge nerd about Welsh history and it's pretty adorable.
Ronan: about as vicious a person can get, but a master of the sarcasm and has a secret soft side for baby ravens. He's very tough and I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
Adam: rather stubborn about succeeding in life on his own, yet a really nice guy. He also has this not-so-secret secret that's really depressing and makes me want to give him a huge hug and protect him from the world. (Cries a little)
Noah: pretty much a puppy in human form.
I love the little twists and turns in this story, and it held my attention the entire time. The setting, Henrietta, Virginia, has such a ordinary yet intriguing atmosphere. This is not a typical young adult novel; it's entirely unique, and I can't wait to get around to reading the second book in this four-part series, The Dream Thieves.
Overall Rating:
The Raven Boys is perfect for you if you want interesting characters, a dash of the unknown, and quite a lot of history and mythology. I would absolutely read this again (rereread?). I also think it would be a great movie or TV show, as long as it goes by the book.
I rate this book five out of five ravens.
Note: I will try my best to post more often, and I apologize for the delay.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Yay sea monsters
Fun fact about me: I used to be obsessed with cryptozoology, aka the study of animals (usually from myth and legend) currently unknown to science. I loved hearing about Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot, el Chupacabra, etc. But my favorite was always sea monsters, especially the Loch Ness Monster. One of my many far-fetched dreams was to find solid evidence of ol' Nessie for once and for all, ending the longtime debate. I have yet to fly to Scotland, but I still have a soft spot for sea monsters. Luckily, my inner ten-year was (mostly) appeased reading Revel by Maurissa Guibord. Emphasis on mostly.
(Photo from www.goodreads.com)
Description:
There's an island off the coast of Maine that's not on any modern map. Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn't her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia's not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it's Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water's edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.
My Thoughts (Mild spoilers):
I wanted more sea monsters and less awkward interactions between characters. Seriously. Delia's treated pretty hostiley (is that a word?) ever since she steps foot on Trespass Island. The islanders there for the most part are very cold, traditional people, rooted in their mysterious ways. Also, there happens to be a ritual/holiday thingamabob that everyone prepares for that happens to be very, very unexpected. And in my opinion, demented. But I won't ruin the surprise. Anyways, Delia's love interests happen to be Sean and Jax. Sean is your typical golden boy, the kind of guy that literally everyone on the island depends on. He's one of the only people who shows kindness to Delia, but he has a terrible secret, which I feel makes him more interesting, personally. There's also Jax, a demigod (though honestly I just keep calling him a merman because that's pretty much what he is) who acts very rude and distant to Delia, almost never giving her a straight answer about the secrets of Trespass Island. There's lots of different plots/conflicts in this story, but I feel they were all resolved effectively by the end. I was still left with some questions, however. So, to sum it up: sea monsters (YAY), passive-aggressive islanders (UGH), a great atmospheric setting (PRETTY), and a love triangle of sorts (NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS).
Overall Rating:
Revel is an interesting take on the paranormal genre, certainly not your typical vampire/werewolf stuff. It was a unique and eerie book to read. My main problems with it were the way the ending wrapped itself up sloppily (Not very satisfying) and the romance between two of the main characters (Just wasn't a huge fan). I suppose you could say I simply have mixed feelings on the whole thing.
I rate this book three out of five sea monsters.
And sorry if I seem a little vague in my analysis here. I actually finished the book a couple weeks ago, so it's not fresh in my mind.
(Photo from www.goodreads.com)
Description:
There's an island off the coast of Maine that's not on any modern map. Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn't her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia's not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it's Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water's edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.
My Thoughts (Mild spoilers):
I wanted more sea monsters and less awkward interactions between characters. Seriously. Delia's treated pretty hostiley (is that a word?) ever since she steps foot on Trespass Island. The islanders there for the most part are very cold, traditional people, rooted in their mysterious ways. Also, there happens to be a ritual/holiday thingamabob that everyone prepares for that happens to be very, very unexpected. And in my opinion, demented. But I won't ruin the surprise. Anyways, Delia's love interests happen to be Sean and Jax. Sean is your typical golden boy, the kind of guy that literally everyone on the island depends on. He's one of the only people who shows kindness to Delia, but he has a terrible secret, which I feel makes him more interesting, personally. There's also Jax, a demigod (though honestly I just keep calling him a merman because that's pretty much what he is) who acts very rude and distant to Delia, almost never giving her a straight answer about the secrets of Trespass Island. There's lots of different plots/conflicts in this story, but I feel they were all resolved effectively by the end. I was still left with some questions, however. So, to sum it up: sea monsters (YAY), passive-aggressive islanders (UGH), a great atmospheric setting (PRETTY), and a love triangle of sorts (NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS).
Overall Rating:
Revel is an interesting take on the paranormal genre, certainly not your typical vampire/werewolf stuff. It was a unique and eerie book to read. My main problems with it were the way the ending wrapped itself up sloppily (Not very satisfying) and the romance between two of the main characters (Just wasn't a huge fan). I suppose you could say I simply have mixed feelings on the whole thing.
I rate this book three out of five sea monsters.
And sorry if I seem a little vague in my analysis here. I actually finished the book a couple weeks ago, so it's not fresh in my mind.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Ouch, my heart
Here's my long-awaited review for Going Bovine by Libba Bray. I just finished a little under an hour ago, and let's just say I'm still tearing up a bit.
Description:
"All sixteen-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school-and life in general-with a minimum amount of effort. It's not a lot to ask. But that's before he's given bad news: he's sick and he's going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure-if he's willing to go in search for it. With the help of Gonzo, a death obsessed, video-gaming dwarf, and a yard gnome who might just be the Viking god Balder, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America of smoothie-drinking happiness cults, parallel-universe-hopping physicists, mythic New Orleans jazz musicians, whacked-out television game shows, snow-globe vigilantes, and disenfranchised, fame-hungry teens into the heart of what matters most. From New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray comes a dark comedic journey that poses the questions: Why are we here? What is real? What makes microwave popcorn so good? Why must we die? And how do we really learn to live?"
My Thoughts (Mild spoilers alert):
I certainly wasn't expecting to have my heart strings tugged so painfully. Cameron's not the most likable character at the beginning, with his stubborn pessimism and questionable attitude, but he and his quirky buddies gradually began to grow on me. The description makes this novel sound mostly like a wacky journey (and that does ring very true) but there's also many interesting, almost philosophic quotes that are sprinkled throughout. Example:
"'...I mean, suppose you take your anger and you channel it into a painting. Pretty soon, you don't care about getting back at that idiot who pissed you off anymore because you're totally into your painting. And then maybe that painting hangs in a gallery someday and it inspires other people to find their thing, whatever it is. You've influenced the world not because you wanted to hug it and cuddle it and call it sweet thing but because one day you wanted to beat the crap out of somebody but you didn't. You made a painting instead. And you couldn't have made that painting without that feeling, without anything to push off against. We human beings can't evolve without the pain.'"
Cameron's journey is definitely a crazy one, mostly outlined in the above description, but there's also this one particular mystery laced throughout, one that isn't answered until the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it's the main reason I was crying by the ending of the book. This book is very adventurous and funny, but also emotional and deep, elements I hadn't predicted before reading.
Overall Rating:
Going Bovine is a fast-paced read that almost reminds me of John Green's writing style, in a way. If you want a book that can make you laugh, cry, and think excessively, then you've come to the right place. But a warning: it's not the most appropriate book, with language, alcohol, drug, and sexual references. It is, however, a memorable one, and I'll be sure to read more of Libba Bray's books in the future. Once I stop internally crying.
I rate this book four out of five yard gnomes.
(Photo from www.amazon.com)
Description:
"All sixteen-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school-and life in general-with a minimum amount of effort. It's not a lot to ask. But that's before he's given bad news: he's sick and he's going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure-if he's willing to go in search for it. With the help of Gonzo, a death obsessed, video-gaming dwarf, and a yard gnome who might just be the Viking god Balder, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America of smoothie-drinking happiness cults, parallel-universe-hopping physicists, mythic New Orleans jazz musicians, whacked-out television game shows, snow-globe vigilantes, and disenfranchised, fame-hungry teens into the heart of what matters most. From New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray comes a dark comedic journey that poses the questions: Why are we here? What is real? What makes microwave popcorn so good? Why must we die? And how do we really learn to live?"
My Thoughts (Mild spoilers alert):
I certainly wasn't expecting to have my heart strings tugged so painfully. Cameron's not the most likable character at the beginning, with his stubborn pessimism and questionable attitude, but he and his quirky buddies gradually began to grow on me. The description makes this novel sound mostly like a wacky journey (and that does ring very true) but there's also many interesting, almost philosophic quotes that are sprinkled throughout. Example:
"'...I mean, suppose you take your anger and you channel it into a painting. Pretty soon, you don't care about getting back at that idiot who pissed you off anymore because you're totally into your painting. And then maybe that painting hangs in a gallery someday and it inspires other people to find their thing, whatever it is. You've influenced the world not because you wanted to hug it and cuddle it and call it sweet thing but because one day you wanted to beat the crap out of somebody but you didn't. You made a painting instead. And you couldn't have made that painting without that feeling, without anything to push off against. We human beings can't evolve without the pain.'"
Cameron's journey is definitely a crazy one, mostly outlined in the above description, but there's also this one particular mystery laced throughout, one that isn't answered until the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it's the main reason I was crying by the ending of the book. This book is very adventurous and funny, but also emotional and deep, elements I hadn't predicted before reading.
Overall Rating:
Going Bovine is a fast-paced read that almost reminds me of John Green's writing style, in a way. If you want a book that can make you laugh, cry, and think excessively, then you've come to the right place. But a warning: it's not the most appropriate book, with language, alcohol, drug, and sexual references. It is, however, a memorable one, and I'll be sure to read more of Libba Bray's books in the future. Once I stop internally crying.
I rate this book four out of five yard gnomes.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Update for those of you who like knowing stuff
I'm currently reading Going Bovine by Libba Bray and should be done soon. It's taken me a lot longer than I've hoped it would, but I'm a bit of a procrastinator, so... yeah. I'll be sure to make it an uber-fabulous review to make up for my laziness.
Auf wiedersehen!
Auf wiedersehen!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
It's time to go ghost huntin', y'all
Time for my very first review. In case you haven't figured it out, the novel I just finished was Ghost Huntress (Book 1): The Awakening, by Marley Gibson.
(Photo from www.oysterbooks.com)
Description:
"Kendall Moorehead can't sleep. Not a wink. Ever since her family moved from Chicago to the small town of Radisson, Georgia, Kendall hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep. It's just too freaking quiet. To remedy the situation, Kendall's father brings home a white-noise machine. The soothing sound of static should help Kendall drift off to la-la land. But what Kendall hears is anything but relaxing: A voice comes through the machine. A voice? Has Kendall completely lost her mind? Or is she waking up to a world she never knew existed?
My Thoughts (Mild spoilers ahead):
This book is very sarcastic, very ghost-info ridden, and very Southern. Kendall is a sharp-witted character who adores Justin Timberlake, Shakespeare, and football. Once she moves with her family to Georgia, she discovers that she can see/interact with ghosts. And, coincidentally, Radisson, Georgia is teeming with them. The novel basically follows Kendall on her journey as she progresses in her ghost-hunting ways, meets friends, which include straight A student/tech whiz Celia, peppy photographer Taylor, and goth DJ Becca, and, of course, finds a cute guy. The novel also explores Kendall's strained relationship with her mother, who struggles to accept Kendall's new found psychic abilities. Luckily, Kendall has Loreen, a cheerful, kooky medium on her side willing to teach her the ways of the ghost-whisperer.
Overall Rating:
If you're looking for a light-hearted read that includes a few ghosts and a whole lotta sass, this book is the way to go. However, I really didn't find it to be all that scary. I mean, sure, we're talking about ghosts, not magical kittens or something, but it certainly didn't give me nightmares. There are a few moments that'll keep you in nail-biting suspense, but for the most part, it was an easy-going novel.
I rate this book three out of five ghosts.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
The Reading List of Excellence
By the way, this list will probably be very irregular because sometimes I give up on books or have to give them back to the library's clutches, but I'll try my best to be faithful! So here's my list (in no particular order):
1) Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by: Marley Gibson
2) The Raven Boys (Book 1) by: Maggie Stiefvater
3) The Friday Society by: Adrienne Cress
4) Rebels: City of Indra by: Kendall and Kylie Jenner
5) Extraordinary by: Nancy Werlin
6) Going Bovine by: Libba Bray
7) The Museum of Extraodrinary Things by: Alice Hoffman
8) Deep Blue by: Jennifer Donnelly
9) Revel by: Maurissa Guibord
10) Timeless by: Alexandra Monir
11) The Enemy by: Charlie Higson
12) The Night Circus by: Erin Morgenstern
Trust me, there's more where that came from.
1) Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by: Marley Gibson
2) The Raven Boys (Book 1) by: Maggie Stiefvater
3) The Friday Society by: Adrienne Cress
4) Rebels: City of Indra by: Kendall and Kylie Jenner
5) Extraordinary by: Nancy Werlin
6) Going Bovine by: Libba Bray
7) The Museum of Extraodrinary Things by: Alice Hoffman
8) Deep Blue by: Jennifer Donnelly
9) Revel by: Maurissa Guibord
10) Timeless by: Alexandra Monir
11) The Enemy by: Charlie Higson
12) The Night Circus by: Erin Morgenstern
Trust me, there's more where that came from.
Why, hello there
I'm Olivia and this little chunk of the Internet Universe has officially been placed under my control for the purpose of book reviews. In case you weren't aware, I read so much it's almost problematic and what better way to express my increasingly strong thoughts and emotions on various books than a blog? Well, either that or through rants to my mom.. You get the picture.
I'm aiming to have at least one book review a week, though I've been known to binge-read often, so they may happen more often than that.
I hope you enjoy my relentless sarcasm.
Au revoir for now.
I'm aiming to have at least one book review a week, though I've been known to binge-read often, so they may happen more often than that.
I hope you enjoy my relentless sarcasm.
Au revoir for now.
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